Hi everyone!
I’m currently a rising senior and as AP scores just came out, I was wondering what my prospects would be for getting into Cambridge University in the UK to study law, hopefully by someone who has gone through the process for applying and successfully getting into Cambridge University. I know Cambridge is very numbers heavy, so the following are my results.
APs:
European history-5
United States History-5
World History-5
Psychology-5
Human Geography-5
Spanish Language and Culture-5
Chinese Language and Culture-5
English Language and Composition-5
Statistics-5
Physics-4
Music Theory-5
SAT: 1540 (800 in Math, 740 in Reading and Writing)
ACT: 34
Legal internship with a lawyer and also head team captain of the debate team. State ranked speaker. (I know Cambridge doesn’t care about extracurriculars but I have heard that activities directly involved with the subject you want to study can play a role).
Also, I realize what a role the interview has to play in the admissions process. I’m just hoping to at least make it to the interview stage first.
I hope that someone who has gone through the process could give me a couple tips and possibly my prospects of getting in.
Thanks!
very impressive AP scores, however I have no idea how anything in the UK works
Your scores are great and definitely put you in the ball park for consideration - I don’t see any reason you shouldn’t get an interview. Work your legal experiences into your personal statement, which is about why you want to study law.
To the OP, what is your nationality, and what is your end goal?
@elguapo1 Nationality is Singaporean and end goal is to be a barrister in Singapore.
@Conformist1688 Thank you so much for the advice! Just wondering, how big of an impact will the 4 in AP Physics have on my admissions chances of law? Do you happen to know which subjects are considered more relevant for law? Thanks!
As you have so many other 5s and it’s a science I wouldn’t be worried. Nothing you can do about it now anyway.
Anything involving essay writing, analysis and argument is good for law - so your history is great, literature would be good too if you can take that next year.
I haven’t gone through the process myself but I had a friend who did for computer science. I know you have to have at least 5 5s on APs (which you definitely have) and all your other stats look great- assuming you have a high gpa since you didn’t post that. You’ll probably get an interview but from what my friend went through that’s the hardest part. Provides you interview very well, I say you have a good chance of getting admitted let alone making it to the interview stage. Plus your legal internship and debate experience will go a long way considering you’re pursuing law.
Don’t forget that there is an aptitude test if you get to interview: http://ba.law.cam.ac.uk/applying/cambridge_law_test/
@Conformist1688 Yes, I plan on taking Literature, Comparative and US Gov, along with Micro and Micro Economics next year.
@alyse16 Do they really look at GPA? My GPA is a 4.0/4.0, and a 4.67/5.0. I thought that they wouldn’t look at GPA and class rank. Maybe I’m wrong?
@collegemom3717 Yes, I have heard that it’s quite challenging.
Cambridge says that they like a ‘strong’ GPA from US students. It is not a significant factor.
@collegemom3717 Where did you read that? I’ve been trying to look for it on the Cambridge website. Also, I don’t think there’s a place on the UCAS application to put your GPA.
You enter all your high school classes and grades in the ucas.
Language has changed slightly from ‘strong’ to ‘high passes’:
“High passes in the High School Diploma and the SAT are expected.” Source: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/usa
@VickiSoCal So under which qualification is that in? On the education system, I selected the USA High School Graduation Diploma, but have no idea how to put my classes and grades in. Also, am I expected to put Pending for AP classes I plan on taking next year?
Under UCAS qualifications you only put AP/IB and SAT/ACT that you took and expect to take. Cambridge will ask to download your transcript in a separate form